$100K Doesn't Go As Far As You Think In VA, New Study Reveals

VIRGINIA — While $100,000 may seem like a generous salary, it doesn't go as far as you think in Virginia.

A new study by SEOSpace reported by KDAF-TV assessed the purchasing power of a $100,000 salary across the United States by first calculating the federal and state tax burdens for each state in 2024. Researchers then adjusted these figures for each state’s cost of living, taking into account expenses like housing, food, and transportation.

The study revealed that $100,000 may not be enough to live comfortably in all U.S. states — and New Jersey is among them.

According to the study, $100,000 in the Commonwealth is only worth $76,866 after figuring in taxes and cost of living. Virginia was ranked No. 33, just ahead of states including Idaho, Utah and New Hampshire.

The top 10 states where $100,000 will go furthest were:

1. West Virginia
2. Tennessee
3. Kansas
4. South Dakota
5. Iowa
6. Texas
7. Mississippi
8. Alabama
9. Missouri
10. Arkansas

For comparison, Hawaii is the state where $100,000 holds the least value. With its exorbitant housing prices and reliance on imported goods, $100,000 goes only as far as $41,482.

Read more via KDAF-TV.